Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Diamonds capture the human imagination and heart.

Diamond engagement rings are where the heart of the woman lies. Engagement rings have been attracting and amusing the women since centuries. Earlier, these rings were out of the reach of common man, but today, they are worn by all those who are in love. The Tiffany Diamond Company was founded by Charles Lewis Tiffany.

In addition to symbolic power, diamonds are also said to possess supernatural powers. The Koh-i-Noor diamond was re-cut to 105 carats for Queen Victoria (Empress of India) by a stone-cutter from Amsterdam. This famous diamond is part of the British Crown jewels. Throughout history, diamonds have been used as adornments and symbols of love, but different cultures have also seen more mystical and mythological powers in this dazzling gemstone.

The history of diamond engagement rings goes back to 15th century. Maximilian I of Austria, for the first time in history presented a diamond engagement ring to Mary of Burgundy in 1477. It has since maintained the tradition of producing high quality diamond jewellery across the price range of the precious jewellery market. In recent years Slade and Kempton has kept up with changing trends.The reason behind presenting the ring was to show the country their eternal unification. Thus, from then started the custom of gifting diamond engagement rings.

One of the earliest symbolic uses for diamonds was as the eyes of Hindu devotional statues. The Eureka Diamond was cut from the first diamond found in South Africa. Also in Hinduism, Indra uses the Vayrayudham, or the thunderbolt as a weapon. Thus diamond jewelry and diamond rings are not something new. They had been used by men to depict their love, since ages. And, who can refuse a proposal when the guy proposes with diamond ring. Gifting a diamond ring means that you actually care about the person, and can trust him by spending a large amount on him. Vajra is the Hindu word for diamonds and ayudham means weapon in Sanskrit.

Diamond engagement rings have become famous among the ordinary people just around 150 years back. It was the De beers promotional campaigns, which brought diamonds within the reach of the ordinary men. At the same time it is continually creating new and contemporary designs, which it produces in the Far East where manufacturing costs are considerably lower than in the U.K. Since then they have been used as wedding rings. Diamond jewellry in the form of diamond pendents and diamond earrings, have also fascinated women excessively.

Diamonds are a truly historic, mythological and fashionable gem associated with a rich history. he Cullinan (aka the Star of Africa) was found by Frederick Wells, the superintendent of the Premier Mine in South Africa, and named after Sir Thomas Cullinan, who opened the mine and was visiting that dayAbraham and Joseph Asscher cut the enormous 3,106 carat Cullinan diamond at the request of King Edward VII in 1902 when the Asscher cut was patented. However, if we go further back in the history, it was in 1215, that Pope Innocent III, presiding over the Fourth lateral Council, declared that there should be a longer period between the betrothal and marriage.

You don’t buy diamond engagement rings for everyone, right? It’s only those special people in your lives, who deserve it. These huge savings in resources are being passed on to the retailer who is able to add on his margins and still remain competitive.And to make those special people around you more special, gift them a diamond. These huge savings in resources are being passed on to the retailer who is able to add on his margins and still remain competitive.The reason being, the hardest metal around, diamond, can only reflect your unbreakable love.

Diamonds have been considered to be magical, powerful and potent symbols.

Beyond marriage ceremonies, diamonds have always been sought after by the world's most wealthy and powerful people. Clarity refers to just that - how clear the stone appears. All natural and artificial diamonds have internal flaws; the fewer or the less apparent these flaws are, the higher the appraisal is likely to be.The word diamond comes from 'adamas' which is the Greek word for 'invincible' and Monarchs have used them as symbols of power by wearing them in their swords, scabbards and as status symbols in their clothing and crowns.

Design, create, and build your own diamond engagement ring or diamond anniversary ring.The Koh-I-Noor diamond, for example, has been worn in the crown jewels of British Monarchs since 1877. Throughout history, diamonds have been used to represent power and royalty from empires and royal houses to Hollywood glamour.

Madonna received an antique Edwardian three-stone diamond ring with a decorative platinum band from Guy Ritchie. The Rose cut was created to resemble an opening rose-bud. The two most famous diamond cutters of this time were Giacomo Tagliacarne and Giovanni delle Corniole who perfected the art of facetted gem cuttingThe ring was supposed to represent their family: mother, father and son Rocco.

Many cultures consider diamonds to be of such worth that they could only have been created as a result of divine intervention. Of course, loose diamonds are not really jewelry until they are placed in a setting, such as a ring or necklace. Even the finest diamonds' value can be affected by the setting; it is a value-added aspect of diamond jewelry.The ancient Greeks even thought that diamonds were the tears of the Gods. In the Old Testament Book of Exodus, diamonds are said to be set in the Urim and Thummim which was worn by Hebrew High priests when they communicated with God or sought oracular guidance.

The Idol's Eye is a flattened, pear-shaped stone the size of a chicken’s egg that was once set in the eye of a Hindu idol before it was stolen. The pale yellow Sancy Diamond was purchased in Constantinople by the French Ambassador to Turkey, Nicholas Harlai, the Seigneur de SancyLegend has it that it was given as a ransom by the Sheik of Kashmir for the return of the beautiful Princess Rasheetah to the Sultan of Turkey who had abducted her.

In North West China the oldest printed book, the Diamond Sutra, dates from AD 868. Pink, green, blue and even purple diamonds are not unusual, and some are far more valuable than their white counterparts. The Grand Condé, a light pink pear-shaped stone, was given to Louis de Bourbon, Prince of Condé by King Louis XIII of FranceThe title refers to a diamond blade that will cut through worldly illusion to illuminate the real and everlasting. In fact, jewel imagery forms a central part of Buddhism.

The diamond has been considered the ultimate symbol of love.

Sanskrit manuscript called the Arthasastra, or the Lesson of Profit mentions a diamond. One of the first examples of diamond jewelry history when a Hungarian queen's crown, is created. Priscilla was engaged to Elvis with a 3.5 carat diamond engagement ring circled by 21 smaller diamonds and diamond chips. However, cut diamonds would not be available for another half-millennium. The Point Cut was developed which follows the natural shape of a raw diamond, reducing waste in the diamond cutting process.

The earliest European records of the history and art of cutting diamonds originate in Paris where there was a flourishing guild, the "Lapidaries, Jewel Cutters and Engravers of Cameos and Hard Stones." Reference is made to a diamond-cutter named Herman, in 1407. Famous diamonds of the type that have fuelled this literature are held by many diverse owners in collections all over the world. The diamond cutters of Paris were quite numerous in that year, and lived in a special district known as "la Courarie, where reside the workers in diamonds and other stones."

Lodewyk (Louis) van Berquem of Brugge, Belgium created the first cut diamonds when he discovered that diamonds could be cut by their own dust. In Western culture, the endurance and value of diamonds makes them popular for symbolising eternity and love, and they are the stone most commonly seen on Engagement Rings and Eternity Rings. It was during this time of ferment that the first diamond-cutters' guild was formed in Antwerp, located in present-day Belgium.Louis van Berquem invented a diamond polishing wheel called a scaif and introduced the concept of using absolute symmetry in the placement of facets on the diamond.

Mary of Burgundy became the first known recipient of a diamond engagement ring given to her by the Archduke Maximilian of Austria. The history and tradition of the engagement ring begins. The diamond has been considered the ultimate symbol of love since 1447 when Archduke Maximillian of Austria gave Mary of Burgundy a diamond ring as a promise of marriage. The Idol's Eye is a flattened, pear-shaped stone the size of a chicken’s egg that was once set in the eye of a Hindu idol before it was stolen.

Diamonds discovered in India.

Diamonds were first discovered in India in around 800 B.C., and were prized by cultures throughout the world for their beauty and rarity. Diamond jewelry has been valued and worn throughout most of recorded history, although the art and science of cutting loose diamonds is relatively new Early societies were particularly impressed with their hardness - the name ‘diamond’ is derived from the Greek word adamas, meaning ‘unconquerable.’ This makes them especially popular for showing love and commitment, in many types of Fine Jewellery including Engagement Rings and Eternity Rings. diamond jewelry has only been available to the general public for the last 150 years or so.

From the ancient Greeks to the modern day, diamonds have been considered to be magical, powerful and potent symbols. Prior to that, diamond jewelry was worn almost exclusively by royalty. The earliest example of diamonds being placed in a setting dates from the time of the Norman Invasion of England. They are also revered for their physical properties, durability, sparkle and the many legends and myths that have been attached to them through history.

Historically, considerable powers have been attributed to diamonds. The diamond is the birthstone for people born in April, and is also used as the symbol of a sixty-year anniversary, such as a Diamond Jubilee. It was during this time of ferment that the first diamond-cutters' guild was formed in Antwerp, located in present-day Belgium. They were used as the eyes of Hindu devotional statues in perhaps their earliest symbolic usage, because they were thought to be endowments from the gods. This usage is thought to date from at least 400 BC.

An industry soon developed for the purpose of appraising loose diamonds, giving birth to the modern diamond jewelry market. It was in this form that diamonds used to ornament temples, goblets, reliquaries, and crowns. The Greeks believed that diamonds were the tears of the gods and the Romans believed they were splinters of fallen stars. Diamonds are a vital symbol in Tibetan Buddhism, which is also known as Vajrayana (Diamond Vehicle), and contains the Diamond Sutra as one of its most important texts.Antwerp continues to be the center of the international diamond jewelry trade.

The following timeline & history of diamonds details important historical events and dates. Fascinating information about the history of diamonds. The history of cutting Diamonds dates back to the beginning of the 1400's in Paris. Diamonds became popular in jewelry and from this time the history of diamonds accelerated and many famous diamonds were cut. The following history timeline of diamonds details important dates relating to famous diamonds and the history of diamonds.History of Diamonds provide facts and information about the history of diamonds together with a timeline.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Pave setting engagement rings

Are you looking for rings that are a delight for the onlookers? Then, know that one of the spectacular and popular rings is pave setting engagement rings. This type of setting has always been popular with the couples due to its dazzling impression on the viewers.
The function of these beads or prongs is to hold the diamonds and to make the metal invisible in order to create an illusion of diamond surface. Generally, the ring metal used for pave setting engagement rings is white gold or platinum but the couples can also use yellow gold to give the ring a traditional touch.A typical such ring consists of a larger diamond on the center and smaller diamonds are studded everywhere on the ring surface up to half of the circumference.
The central stone, however, can be set in prong or bezel settings for highlighting it on the ring.
As far as costs are concerned, these rings are generally expensive because of many diamonds. Cost of the ring largely depends on the cost of diamonds. Smaller diamonds will be affordable once you take steps to buy them in wiser manner for pave setting engagement rings.
They can ask the jeweler for pave setting engagement rings with a singly row of the stones and the ring band should be thin. To cut the prices, a colorful gemstone can be chosen as the central stone instead of diamond. Surely, these are dazzling rings for the couples if they can take care of the costs as well.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Lord Of The Rings Replica Swords

The Lord Of The Ring movies, directed by Peter Jackson, shot mostly on location in his native New Zealand, have become instant classics, their critical and financial success making sword & sorcery movies acceptable again in Hollywood. The films dedication to practical authenticity when it came to swords and armour,officially licensed, from United Cutlery. What makes these items truly special is that they were made with the same care and attention that was lavished on the actual props, in many cases made using the same moulds! coupled with Oscar winning production design,This is the broken blade that is re-forged by the elf lord Elrond in the final film, becoming Anduril, wielded by Aragorn in the third films climactic battle sequences. Replica's are available of both versions, and are both magnificent, at over 50 inches long, with high quality stainless steel blades, antique silver and gold highlights and a leather wrapped grip.the sword worn by Boromir, King Theoden and Eowyn's swords and Arwen's elvish blade. Again, the quality is uniforms excellent, with each sword sold with a presentation stand or wall plaque, and a certificate of authenticity.made in the same fashion and to the same quality as the hero's blades, although, obviously not quite so pretty! Several of the blades use a complex acid etching technique to reproduce the worn and weathered look found on the actual film props. Finally, fans looking for something a little different can pick up a scaled down replica of the massive mace used by Sauron in the opening battle of the trilogy.These were hand-forged from carbon-steel in Toledo Spain, and come with additional certificates of authenticity signed by none other than famed artist and production designer for the films, John Howe.

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Citrine's Refreshing Brilliance

This unique gemstone is commonly confused with topaz and erroneously referred to as gold topaz.The biggest supply of natural stone comes from Brazil. But Spain, Scotland, Argentina, Namibia and Myanmar also have natural deposits. Since amethyst and smoky quartz are a source for citrine jewelry, anywhere these are mined are also a supply source.The most valuable color is burnt-orange and the most popular is a slightly lighter yellow with a hint of orange.On the Mohs scale of hardness, these stones, like all quartz, rank a 7. This means they are quite durable and are great for every day wear. Cleaning them is also fairly simply. Soak them in warm water with a gentle cleaner and scrub with a toothbrush. Because extreme temperatures cause color changes, avoid exposure to high heat. Do not clean in an ultrasonic machine or use a steamer. It should be easy to find a citrine necklace free of inclusions. Typically, only the clear stones are cut into facets. If there are inclusions, they are used in different cuts that reduce their visibility. The truth is they are completely different and the only thing they share is a similar yellow hue.
Citrine jewelry was very popular either alone in clustered with other colored gemstones like peridot. Brooches and rings were particularly common and are now retro-trendy.